Hearing planned tonight on Vectren rate hike

A public hearing this week in Evansville will give individuals a chance to speak about Vectren's proposal to raise customers' natural gas bills.

The hearing, hosted by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Old National Events Plaza (formerly The Centre).

Last fall, Vectren announced its plans to spend $217 million over the next seven years to upgrade natural gas pipelines in Southwestern Indiana to comply with stricter federal safety regulations.

Plans call for Vectren to replace about 300 miles of bare steel and cast iron distribution mains with new pipes, most made of plastic. The utility will also inspect and replace transmission pipelines as needed.

"This is work that has to be done. That's why we're doing it," Vectren President and CEO Carl Chapman told the Courier & Press' this month.

To recoup its costs, Vectren has asked utility regulators for permission to raise its customers' natural gas bills incrementally beginning in 2015. The proposal concerns natural gas customers only — electric bills will not be affected.

Under the proposal Vectren submitted to state regulators, the average residential customer's gas bill starting in 2015 would increase by $1.34 per month. The increases would continue in varying amounts every six months through 2021, when the expected cumulative increase would be between $13 and $14 per month.

At Monday's hearing, customers can formally address IURC commissioners regarding Vectren's plan. All comments will become part of the public record for the case.

During the hearing neither the IURC commissioners nor Vectren can respond to questions or comments posed to them. But staff from the IURC and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor will be available before, during and after the meeting to answer questions.

Those unable to attend this week's hearing can submit written comments until April 21. Written comments, which also become part of the official public record, may be submitted by email to uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov; by fax to 317-232-5923; or by mail to Consumer Services Staff, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204.